Prefabricated storm shelter and associated methods

ABSTRACT

The storm shelter includes a prefabricatable enclosure at a remote site, and deliverable to the building construction site following floor slab pouring and prior to wall construction. The shelter includes a unitary solid enclosure having entry means and an open bottom, the enclosure made of material having sufficient strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather, such as poured concrete. The shelter further includes devices for affixing the enclosure to the building slab, which also have sufficient strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from provisional application No.60/094,631, “Prefabricated Storm Shelter and Associated Methods,” filedJul. 30, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to storm shelters, and, moreparticularly, to storm shelters directly accessible from a building.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Storm shelters are desirable in areas subject to violent weathersuch as hurricanes and tornadoes. In particular, tornadoes can strikewith little warning, leaving building occupants no time to evacuate.

[0006] In some localities where basements are not typically part of abuilding, it is desirable to provide a shelter for building occupantsthat is immediately accessible from the building. Such a constructionhas been disclosed by Silen; however, this assembly must be constructedon site, and is indeed affixed to other walls of the building.

[0007] Other shelter constructions have been disclosed by Rice (U.S.Pat. No. 4,539,780), Thornton (U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,158), Hsu (U.S. Pat.No. 5,210,985), and Riley (U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,923).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a stormshelter that is readily accessible from a building.

[0009] It is another object to provide such a shelter that isstructurally independent of the building structure.

[0010] It is a further object to provide such a shelter that isconstructed separately from the building site.

[0011] It is also an object to provide such a shelter that can beprefabricated and delivered to the building site prior to the building'sconstruction.

[0012] It is yet another object to provide a method of providing shelterto building occupants.

[0013] It is yet a further object to provide a method of constructing astorm shelter.

[0014] It is yet an additional object to provide a method ofincorporating a storm shelter into a building under construction.

[0015] Another object is to provide such a method that does notsubstantially interfere with the building's construction schedule.

[0016] These and other objects are provided by the present invention, astorm shelter and associated methods. The storm shelter is preferablyprefabricatable at a remote site, and deliverable to the buildingconstruction site following floor slab pouring and prior to wallconstruction.

[0017] The shelter comprises a unitary solid enclosure having sidewalls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an open bottom. Theenclosure comprises a material having sufficient strength to withstandtornado- and hurricane-force weather. Such a material may comprise, forexample, poured concrete, although this is not intended as a limitation.

[0018] The shelter further comprises means for affixing the enclosure tothe building slab, such means also having sufficient strength towithstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather.

[0019] The features that characterize the invention, both as toorganization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, will be better understood from the followingdescription used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is tobe expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose ofillustration and description and is not intended as a definition of thelimits of the invention. These and other objects attained, andadvantages offered, by the present invention will become more fullyapparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a first embodimentof the storm shelter of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view through a wall of theshelter of FIG. 1, illustrating the method of affixing this shelter tothe floor slab.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a second embodimentof the storm shelter of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view through a wall of theshelter of FIG. 3, illustrating the method of affixing this shelter tothe floor slab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A description of the preferred embodiments of the present 15invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

[0025] A first embodiment of the storm shelter 10 of the presentinvention (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises an enclosure 15 having, in aparticular embodiment, four walls 11, a ceiling 12, and a high-strengthaccess door 13. The bottom 14 is open.

[0026] The shelter 10 typically is constructed as a unitary enclosure 15by pouring a flowable material such as concrete into a mold, althoughthis material is not intended as a limitation. Whatever material isused, it should have sufficient strength conferred by its materialproperties and thickness to withstand tornado- and hurricane-forceweather.

[0027] Protruding from the bottom of the walls 11 are a plurality ofmeans for affixing the enclosure 15 to a floor slab 20 of a building.Such affixing means may comprise, for example, a plurality ofspaced-apart reinforcing rods 16 (“rebar”), each having a bottom portion21 protruding beneath the walls 11 and a top portion 22 embedded in thewalls 11, although this is not intended as a limitation. In anembodiment a footer 23 dimensioned to conform to the shape of the wallperimeter is poured under the floor slab 20 during construction thereof.Installation of the shelter 10 comprises anchoring the bottom portions21 of the reinforcing rods 16 to the floor slab 20 and footer 23, forexample, with high-strength anchoring cement. The building walls arethen constructed around the shelter 10, which may serve, for example, asa closet until needed in an emergency. Other locations may also becontemplated for the shelter. Preferably none of the building wallsshould be affixed to the shelter 10, which will permit the buildingwalls to break away in case of structural failure of the building.

[0028] In a second embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), believed to be preferred,the shelter 30 affixing means comprises a plurality of hold-down anchors36, each having a side portion 31 protruding outward at generally rightangles from the walls 11 and a top portion 32 generally at right anglesto the side portion 31 bolted to the outside of the walls 11, althoughthis is not intended as a limitation. In a preferred embodiment eachanchor 36 has two holes 37 in the top portion 32 for admitting bolts 40therethrough for bolting into the side walls 11 and one hole 38 in theside portion 31 for admitting a bolt 40 therethrough for bolting intothe footer 23 with an addition of epoxy.

[0029] Particular dimensions and building material may comprise: afooter 23 having a width of 24 in. and a depth of 16 in.; reinforcingrods 16 of ⅝ in. having a top portion 22 of 24 in. and a bottom portion21 of 12 in. and spaced apart about the wall perimeter at a distance of24 in.; a storm door 13 having a solid core an a heavy-duty latchingdevice; and walls 11 and ceiling 12 of prefabricated, steel-reinforced,4-in.-thick solid high-strength concrete.

[0030] Preferably the shelter 10 may be manufactured at a site remotefrom the building construction, such as a concrete prefabrication plant,and delivered to the building site following floor slab 20 pouring andprior to wall construction. Such a method will not substantially alterthe building schedule and will not add an insurmountable cost to thebuilding construction.

[0031] During an emergency the building occupants can immediately enterthe shelter 10 via the access door 13 and be safe, without leaving thebuilding.

[0032] It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that additionalembodiments may be contemplated, including enclosures and affixing meansof alternate materials.

[0033] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations areto be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art,because such words are used for description purposes herein and areintended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of theapparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, andthe scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction.

[0034] Having now described the invention, the construction, theoperation and use of preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageousnew and useful results obtained thereby, the new and usefulconstructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storm shelter for forming part of a building tobe constructed comprising: a unitary solid enclosure having side walls,a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, theenclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a storm ofpredetermined magnitude; and means embedded in and projecting from theside walls for affixing the enclosure to a slab at a building site, theaffixing means having sufficient strength to withstand a storm ofpredetermined magnitude.
 2. The storm shelter recited in claim 1 ,wherein the enclosure comprises poured concrete.
 3. The storm shelterrecited in claim 1 , wherein the side walls comprise four side wallsmeeting in generally right angles to form a rectilinear enclosure. 4.The storm shelter recited in claim 1 , further comprising ahigh-strength access door hingedly affixed within the door opening. 5.The storm shelter recited in claim 1 , wherein the affixing meanscomprises means for affixing the enclosure to a footer having a shapecommensurate with a shape of a bottom of the enclosure.
 6. The stormshelter recited in claim 5 , wherein the affixing means comprises aplurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each having a top portionaffixable to a side wall and a side portion protruding outwardlytherefrom, the side portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.
 7. Thestorm shelter recited in claim 5 , wherein the affixing means comprisesa plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having a top portionembedded in a side wall and a bottom portion protruding therebeneath,the bottom portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.
 8. The stormshelter recited in claim 1 , wherein the affixing means comprises aplurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each having a top portionaffixable to a side wall and a side portion protruding outwardlytherefrom, the side portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.
 9. Thestorm shelter recited in claim 1 , wherein the affixing means comprisesa plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having a top portionembedded in a side wall and a bottom portion protruding therebeneath,the bottom portion adapted to be embedded in the slab.
 10. The stormshelter recited in claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprisesprefabricated, steel-reinforced high-strength concrete.
 11. The stormshelter recited in claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is affixable at acloset location within the building site.
 12. A method for constructinga storm shelter comprising the steps of: fabricating an enclosure at aremote site, the enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a sidewall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure havingsufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude;transporting the enclosure to a building site; and affixing theenclosure to a slab at the building site with sufficient strength towithstand a storm of predetermined magnitude.
 13. The method recited inclaim 12 , wherein: the fabricating step comprises affixing a pluralityof hold-down anchors in spaced-apart relation to an outside surface ofthe side walls so as to project outwardly therefrom; and the affixingstep comprises affixing the projecting portions of the anchors intoconcrete at the building site.
 14. The method recited in claim 12 ,wherein: the fabricating step comprises embedding a plurality ofreinforcing rods in spaced-apart relation in the side walls so as toproject partially therebeneath; and the affixing step comprisesembedding the projecting portions of the reinforcing rods into concreteat the building site.
 15. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein theaffixing step comprises embedding the projecting portions of thereinforcing rods into a poured concrete footer at the building site. 16.The method recited in claim 12 , wherein the fabricating step furthercomprises the step of affixing a storm door within the door opening, thedoor having a heavy-duty latching device affixed thereto.
 17. The methodrecited in claim 12 , wherein the fabricating step comprises forming aconcrete mold having a desired form, affixing reinforcing steel memberstherewithin, and pouring a high-strength concrete thereinto.
 18. Themethod recited in claim 12 , wherein the affixing step comprises placingthe enclosure at a location in the building site at a position intendedto be within the confines of the planned building.
 19. The methodrecited in claim 18 , wherein the affixing step further comprisespositioning the door opening for access from within the buildingconfines.
 20. A method for constructing a building having an internalstorm shelter comprising the steps of: fabricating an enclosure at aremote site, the enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a sidewall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure havingsufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude;transporting the enclosure to a building site; pouring a slab for thebuilding; and affixing the enclosure to the slab with sufficientstrength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude.
 21. The methodrecited in claim 20 , further comprising the step, following theslab-pouring step, of pouring a building footer atop the building slab,and wherein the enclosure-affixing step comprises affixing the enclosureto the footer.
 22. The method recited in claim 21 , wherein: theenclosure-fabricating step further comprises affixing a plurality ofhold-down to the side walls, each anchor having a top portion affixableto an outside surface of the side wall and a side portion projectingoutwardly therefrom; and the enclosure-affixing step comprises affixingthe anchor side portions to the footer.
 23. The method recited in claim21 , wherein: the enclosure-fabricating step further comprises embeddinga plurality of reinforcing bars in the side walls, each bar having a topportion embedded in the side wall and a bottom portion projectingtherebeneath; and the enclosure-affixing step comprises embedding thereinforcing bars bottom portions in the footer.